The silent cinema’s greatest artist was born on April 16, 1889. And whether it was acting, writing, directing, or composing his own soundtracks, Chaplin did it all.
Happy Birthday to the Tramp: The Life and Times of Charlie Chaplin
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Chaplin's most beloved character, The Tramp, made its debut in a 5 minute short in 1914. In his autobiography he recalls, "I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he was fully born," In this photo, he poses with Jackie Coogan in 1921's The Kid.